Comparative cytotoxicity of Turkish propolis extracts: solvent-dependent effects across eight cancer cell lines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.845Keywords:
Anticancer, Cytotoxicity, IC₅₀, MTT assay, Turkish propolisAbstract
Propolis, a natural resinous bee product, has considerable potential as a source of anticancer agents. This study investigated the cytotoxic properties of Turkish propolis extracted with water (PWE) and 70% (v/v) ethanol (PEE) against a panel of eight cancer cell lines representing diverse tissue origins. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay after 48 and 72 hours of exposure. Both extracts showed clear time and concentration dependent cytotoxic effects, but the 70% ethanolic extract (PEE) exhibited consistently greater potency across all cell lines. The 72 hour IC₅₀ values for PEE ranged from 17.22 ± 0.35 µg/mL to 51.78 ± 1.17 µg/mL, whereas PWE was markedly less active (IC₅₀ range from 45.27 ± 0.50 µg/mL to 642.13 ± 3.20 µg/mL). The cell lines most sensitive to PEE were HT-29 (colorectal adenocarcinoma), PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma), and MG-63 (osteosarcoma). These findings highlight the critical influence of the extraction solvents on the recovery of bioactive anticancer compounds. The superior efficacy of PEE suggests that the key anticancer components in Turkish propolis are more efficiently extracted with 70% ethanol. Overall, this study underscores the potential of Turkish propolis as a rich source of anticancer agents and contributes to the growing evidence supporting its chemopreventive and therapeutic properties.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Esra Dibek, Anara Babayeva, Merve Sezer Kürkçü, Emine Sonay Elgin, Ali Sorucu, İbrahim Kivrak, Bekir Çöl
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